Solution Summary: Powered Paint Remover
Description:
The Powered Paint Remover is an engineering control that may help reduce stressful hand and wrist activities. The Powered Paint Remover uses a rotating wheel, similar to an angle grinder, with three grinding blades or a carbide disc that removes paint down to the original surface. The Powered Paint Remover has a depth guide to protect from excessive surface removal.
A powered paint remover is a grinding tool used to remove paint from flat wooden shingles, flat clapboards, and flat concrete and fiberglass surfaces being prepared for repaint.
AIT Paintshaver Pro
The Paintshaver Pro manufactured by AIT uses three replaceable tungsten carbide or diamond tipped blades for paint removal. The Paintshaver Pro simultaneously removes paint from the face and the butt of the shingle or clapboard. The Paintshaver Pro comes with a vacuum collection hose that attaches to a cover that surrounds the rotating blades (Figure 1). The Paintshaver Pro comes in 6 or 8 amp models and has an adjustable depth feature and angle guide. The 6 amp model weighs 5 lbs and the 8 amp model weighs 6 lbs and comes with an adjustable side handle (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. AIT Paintshaver Pro in use. (Photo courtesy of American International Tool)
Porter Cable The Power Paint Remover
The Power Paint Remover by Porter Cable uses tungsten carbide discs that come in 24, 36, and 46 grit. The Power Paint Remover is only available in an 8 amp model and comes with an side handle and vertical and horizontal adjustment controls.
Risks Addressed:
Stressful hand and wrist activity can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as muscle strains; tendonitis, which is inflammation of elbow and wrist tendons; or carpal tunnel syndrome, which is compression of a wrist nerve, resulting in finger numbness and loss of hand strength. The Powered Paint Remover can help reduce stressful hand an wrist activity by minimizing the need for workers to use manual paint removers such as scrapers and sandpaper.
How Risks are Reduced:
Forceful hand and wrist activities are associated with an increased risk of hand, wrist, and forearm injuries. The Powered Paint Remover eliminates the need for workers to use manual paint removers such as scrapers and sandpaper that require forceful hand and wrist activities.
Safety and health experts believe that minimizing forceful hand and wrist exertions may reduce the risk of injuries to the hand and wrist. The Powered Paint Remover may reduce stressful wrist and hand activities associated with manual paint removal from shingles and clapboards by eliminating the need to use manual hand tool to remove paint.
Effects on Productivity:
The Powered Paint remover may increase productivity by reducing the amount of time it takes to remove paint from shingle and clapboards.
Additional Considerations:
The Powered Paint Remover may expose the worker to hand and arm vibration. The Powered Paint Remover creates dust and may expose worker to harmful dust if a respirator is not worn.
Contributors:
Dan Anton, PT, PhD, ATC; and Jonathan Braun, SPT – Eastern Washington University
Hazards Addressed:
- Masonry, Tile, Cement & Plaster
- Chip, scrape and grind surfaces, or joints
- Clean surfaces
Availability
AIT Paintshaver Pro
To obtain information, visit http://www.paintshaver.com
or contact 1-800-532-9872
Porter Cable Power Paint Remover
To obtain information, visit http://www.portercable.com
or contact 1-866-375-6287